INQ 110
Intellectual Inquiry
Mind and body
Fall 2014
Hans Zorn
Office: West 315
Phone: 375-2024 (O); 989-1890 (H)
E-mail: zorn@roanoke.edu
Office hours:
MW 1:20-2:20
TTh 3:00-4:00
Writing Fellow Stephanie Spector
This course deals with the perennial question of who we are and how we relate to the rest of the
world: are we highly sophisticated bodies, immaterial minds, or something else? Thinkers both
ancient and modern have reflected on these questions. As we follow along with them, we will find
that dealing with the relation between mind and body prompts us to consider other topics at the
core of our sense of what it means to be a human being: the nature of consciousness, the possibility
of freedom, death, human destiny, and the existence of God.
COURSE OUTCOMES
1. Students will be able to read, discuss, and write about college-level academic texts and
ideas.
2. Students will be able to use a process of drafting to write papers that have clear theses,
cogent argumentation, proper use of evidence, effective organization, and a minimum of
sentence-level errors.
3. Students will be able to use library and other resources to find, evaluate, and synthesize
information from multiple sources and use this information in support of a research
question.
Requirements:
Attendance
Participation
Short analysis papers
2 Medium analysis papers
Research paper
Proposal
Annotated bibliography
Paper
Peer responding
dropped after 3 absences
15% of final grade
10% total
30% total
35%
5%
10%
20%
10%
Attendance and Participation
Since the skills involved in critical thinking, reading, and writing are developed best in a
collaborative atmosphere, participation is an important part of the course. Attendance is
thus essential, both for you and for your classmates. Any student who misses more than 3
2
classes, for whatever reason, may, after due warning, be dropped from the course. If there
are exceptional circumstances that require your missing class more than 3 times, you must
make these clear to me.
Effective discussion requires preparation for each class, which means that you must have
read and reflected upon the material assigned. Everyone will be expected to come to class
with questions to discuss concerning the day’s reading, and will be called upon to
contribute to discussions on a regular basis.
Papers and Grading
There will be several types of formal papers. Short (ca. 2 pp.) analysis papers will call on
you to explain specific points or passages. These will be assigned at various times
throughout the semester as occasion warrants. Medium analysis papers (5 pp.) will work
on developing and presenting ideas in more depth. A research paper (7-8 pp., plus
proposal and annotated bibliography) at the end of the course will require more
independent thinking and argumentation.
All papers will be evaluated on their clarity of expression and cogency of argument. In
general, an “A” paper is clearly organized, both at the paragraph level and overall, uses
English properly at the sentence level, and has a clear thesis with a well-reasoned argument
to support it. It goes beyond what is required by the assignment in the depth and
thoroughness of its analysis. A “B” paper meets the assignment by critically engaging the
material and arguing effectively, but typically does not go beyond it. Its thesis may be less
well-defined, and the argument may not as rigorous or thorough as that of an “A” paper;
often it has less effective organization and use of language. “C” papers also meet the
assignment, but are not well-organized or argued, often lack a clear thesis, and tend to have
significant problems at the sentence level. “D” papers are seriously deficient in all areas,
while an “F” indicates that the author has not understood the material or has made little
effort to analyze it.
In addition, papers that are deficient in grammar and/or spelling will receive two grades,
one for content and an F for grammar. If a corrected version of the paper is turned in by
the next class period, the grade for the paper will be the content grade. If the mistakes in
grammar or spelling are not corrected, the paper will receive the average of the two grades.
Late policy
Papers, including drafts and informal writings, are due at the beginning of class on the dates
noted in the syllabus. Late work will not be accepted except under exceptional
circumstances. This includes all drafts. If there is a compelling reason to turn work in late,
e.g., violent illness or a death in the family, arrangements should be made with me in
advance if at all possible.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to abide by the Roanoke College Academic Integrity Code at all
times and for all work, including drafts and informal writing. We all have a responsibility
to seek the truth and to be truthful in the way we seek it, but we have additional
responsibilities as members of an academic community. Those wishing to have a place in
such a community must take a stand on their own work. As members of a community of
scholars we draw on the work of others, but simple justice as well as intellectual integrity
requires that we acknowledge the work of others by properly citing sources. If you have
any questions about what to cite or how, you should talk to me.
3
Writing Center
The Writing Center @ Roanoke College, located on the Lower Level of Fintel Library,
offers writing tutorials focused on written and oral communication for students working
on writing assignments/projects in any field. Writers at all levels of competence may
visit the Writing Center at any point in their process, from brainstorming to drafting to
editing, to talk with trained peer tutors in informal, one-on-one sessions. The Writing
Center is open Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 9 pm. Simply stop in, or schedule an
appointment by going to www.roanoke.edu/writingcenter, where our schedule of writing
workshops and creative writing playshops is also posted. Questions? Email
writingcenter@roanoke.edu or call 375-4949. Like our Facebook page for updates!
The Office of Disability Support Services, located in the Goode-Pasfield Center for
Learning and Teaching in Fintel Library, provides reasonable accommodations to
students with identified disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are provided based on
the diagnosed disability and the recommendations of the professional evaluator. In order
to be considered for disability services, students must identify themselves to the Office of
Disability Support Services. Students requesting accommodations are required to provide
specific current documentation of their disabilities. Please contact Rick Robers, M.A.,
Coordinator of Disability Support Services, at 540-375-2247 or e-mail
robers@roanoke.edu.
If you are on record with the College’s Office of Disability Support Services as having
academic or physical needs requiring accommodations, please schedule an appointment
with Mr. Robers as soon as possible. You need to discuss your accommodations with
him before they can be implemented. Also, please note that arrangements for extended
time on exams, testing, and quizzes in a distraction-reduced environment must be made at
least one week before every exam.
Texts:
Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy
Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, RC ed.
McGinn, The Mysterious Flame
Miller, trans., The Bhagavad Gita
Plato, Five Dialogues
Tentative Schedule
I. Inquiry and Argument
Aug.
27
Introduction
4
29
Sept. 1
3
Plato, Apology
Apology, argument analysis
Hacker, C4: Writing Paragraphs, pp. 24-37
Paragraph assignment due
II. The Soul
Oct.
5
Plato, Meno 70a-86c
8
Short Analysis (argument summary) draft due; in-class critique
10
Plato, Phaedo
Short Analysis final draft due
11
4:15: Nicholas Davey, “The Practical Value of the Humanities” Pickle Lounge
12
Phaedo, continued; reflections on Davey
15
Phaedo, continued; Hacker, C1: Planning, pp. 3-14
17
Plato discussion; Hacker, C2: Drafting, pp. 14-20
Medium Analysis #1 outline due
19
Dr. Vilhauer: Spelman, “Woman as Body: Ancient and Contemporary Views”
(JSTOR)
22
Bhagavad Gita
Medium Analysis rough draft due; thesis statement exercise
24
Paper conferences
26
Peer reviews; Hacker, MLA-4: Documenting Sources
29
Bhagavad Gita, continued; Hacker, C3: Revising, pp. 20-31; conferences with
Writing Fellow
1
Bhagavad Gita, continued; conferences
III. Mind and body
3
Descartes, Meditation One
Medium Analysis #1 Final draft due
6
Descartes, Meditation Two
8
Descartes, Meditation Three
10
Descartes, Meditation Four
5
FALL BREAK
Oct.
20
Descartes, Meditation Five
22
Theology after Descartes: Dr. Hinlicky
24
Descartes, Meditation Six
Medium Analysis # 2 Rough draft due
27
Peer review conferences
29
Spinoza: Dr. Adkins; conferences with Writing Fellow
IV. Mind’s Place in the World
Nov.
31
Library orientation; conferences
3
McGinn, ch. 1: Consciousness—Still Unexplained after All These Years
Medium Analysis # 2 final draft due
5
Formulating good questions: brainstorming paper topics
7
McGinn, ch. 2: Natural Mysteries and Biased Minds
10
McGinn, ch. 2, continued
Research paper proposals due
12
McGinn, ch. 3: God, the Soul, and Parallel Universes
14
McGinn, ch. 3, continued
17
The psychology of consciousness: Dr. Buchholz
Annotated bibliography due
19
McGinn, ch. 5: Secrets of the Self
21
McGinn, ch. 5, continued
24
Paper conferences
THANKSGIVING
Dec.
1
McGinn, ch. 6: Could a Robot Get the Blues?
3
McGinn, ch. 7: The Unbearable Heaviness of Philosophy
Rough draft due
5
Peer review; Conclusion
10
Final draft due by 11:30am
6